Released footage showing French Navy personnel handing out life jackets to small-boat migrants attempting to cross the English Channel.
The video shows dozens of migrants wearing bright orange life jackets while a French naval vessel moves alongside their boat. Sailors can be seen throwing additional life jackets towards the migrants, who reach out to grab them.
This comes as officials report that around 9,700 people have already crossed the Channel into the UK this year.
The footage emerged just hours after several boats carrying migrants set off on a risky overnight journey lasting around 22 hours.
Three boats reportedly departed from beaches near the Dieppe area at around 7am yesterday, over 100 miles south of the usual departure points near Calais and Dunkirk.
The vessels later entered UK waters early this morning, with more than 160 migrants brought to Dover harbour, followed by another group of around 150 arriving a few hours later.
People-smuggling gangs are believed to be shifting departure locations further along the coast, even into parts of Belgium, in an effort to avoid French police patrols targeting beach launches.
Security patrols around Calais and Dunkirk have increased in recent weeks following a £662 million UK–France security agreement.
A Home Office spokesperson said the government is “cracking down on small boat crossings,” pointing to record levels of removals and a reported 12% drop in asylum claims.
They added that a new agreement with France will strengthen enforcement on beaches and help target smuggling networks, building on joint efforts that officials say have prevented over 42,000 attempted crossings since the election.
The spokesperson also said nearly 70,000 people have been removed or deported, an increase of 41%, and that further steps are being taken to reduce incentives for illegal migration.
Authorities say the latest crossings came after a brief pause of more than two weeks, when rough weather in the Channel had prevented attempts.
Overall, the number of arrivals so far this year is reported to be around 6,000 lower than at the same point last year.
